Decellularized Tissue-Derived Materials for 3D In Vitro Cancer Models Development

Cancer is a complex disease that requires adequate experimental models to understand disease biology, allow the prediction of therapy response and, ultimately, the discovery of new therapeutic targets. Decades of biomedical research led to the conclusion that cancer models must consider not only malignant cells, but recreate as much as possible the native tumor microenvironment. A three-dimensional system containing the main cellular elements present within the solid tumor (cancer cells, immune cells, fibroblasts) embedded in a native-like extracellular matrix is now considered key. Both the biochemical composition and the physical structure of the extracellular matrix are known to play vital roles in cancer progression and treatment response. Decellularized tissue-derived materials are currently the most appealing tools to incorporate in cancer experimental models due to their resemblance with native tissues. Additionally, patient-derived tumor decellularized matrices hold strong potential in personalized medicine, as they can be used in drug-testing platforms.